News > Press Releases
Press release: Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota praises St. Cloud leaders for standing up for refugees
Posted on Oct 19 2017
October 19, 2017 – St. Cloud community members and elected officials this week denounced an anti-refugee resolution proposed by city council member Jeff Johnson. Council member John Libert called the resolution “inappropriate and said he thinks it is unconstitutional. Mayor Dave Kleis agreed that the resolution seemed unconstitutional and said that “We strive very hard to be a welcoming community. We work very hard to encourage people to come to the community. We should be focusing our efforts on making sure everyone succeeds.”
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota applauds the response of these and other St. Cloud leaders and residents in rejecting the intolerance and bigotry of a small but vocal group that has pushed for a moratorium on refugee resettlement. The strong responses from community leaders reflects their determination to make St. Cloud a welcoming city. These leaders, not the loud but small anti-immigrant clique, represent the community as a whole.
Their strong response has already succeeded in delaying the introduction of the resolution, which Johnson proposed in an email to council members on Tuesday, the same day as St. Cloud’s 12th annual “Conversation on Race.” Johnson initially planned to introduce the resolution on October 23, but then said he would delay until November 6. In order to introduce the resolution, he would need a second from another city council member.
“Minnesota welcomes refugees and recognizes their important contributions to our communities,” said John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM). “Just last month we had a wonderful, positive educational presentation about immigration and refugee law and policy with more than 75 persons joining us at the library in St. Cloud. These New Americans are vital to our workforce, schools, and futures. Like the rest of the state, St. Cloud is strengthened by diversity, and especially by the courage and strength of refugees. We join the majority of St. Cloud residents in rejecting prejudice and we stand in support of intentional, positive measures to make Minnesota a welcoming state.”